System and method for rewriting a media resource request and/or response between origin server and client

• US 7,013,322 B2
• Filed: 01/29/2001
• Issued: 03/14/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Level 3 Communications LLC (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: WilTel Communications Group LLC (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Lahr, Nils B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jean, Frantz B.
• Application Number:
  US09/770,645
• Publication Number:
  US 20020040366A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,870 Days
• Field of Search: 709201-203, 709/206, 709217-219, 709225-227, 709230-232, 709/238, 709/246, 709/249, 707/4, 707/10, 710/65, 341/50, 341/51
• US Class Current: 709/201
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9566 URL specific, e.g. using aliases, detecting broken or misspelled links
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9574 of access to content, e.g. by caching
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/56 Provisioning of proxy services store-and-forward switching systems in data switching networks H04L12/54
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/561 Adding application-functional data or data for application control, e.g. adding metadata
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/562 Brokering proxy services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/563 Data redirection of data network streams
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/564 Enhancement of application control based on intercepted application data
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/568 Storing data temporarily at an intermediate stage, e.g. caching
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

A distributed network which is capable of dynamically changing media resource request metafiles, as well as the responses to those media resource requests by media servers in the network, to provide more efficient content delivery in the network. The network employs a system and method for intercepting a media resource request metafile client request, or a response to the media resource request by a media server in the network, and intelligently rewriting the response before sending it back to the requesting client. The file or protocol response can be rewritten according to localized information such as resource availability and client request information which the centralized web server may not have or even be able to obtain, such as the client'"'"'s ISP, browser type, ISP'"'"'s surfing trends and so on. The system and method thus enables the network to send the local client to either a local server or a remote server to receive the requested content.

Claims

1. A system for handling data requests in a distributed data delivery network, the system comprising:

a data resource request modifiers, adapted to intercept and modify a data resource request issued by a user requesting data from said network prior to said data resource request being advanced by a first data server encountered in said network, to create a modified data resource request; and

a data delivery device, adapted to control routing of the requested data and delivery of the requested data from a data server in said distributed data delivery network to said user based on said modified data resource request, wherein said requested data remains unmodified through the delivery of the requested data from said data server to said user.

2. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said data resource request includes a data resource request metafile;

said data resource request modifier is adapted to modify said data resource request metafile to create a modified data resource request metafile included in said modified data resource request; and

said data delivery device is adapted to control routing of said requested data from said data server based on said modified data resource request metafile.

3. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said data delivery device issues a response to said user based on said modified data resource request to enable said user to receive said requested data from said data server.

4. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said modified data resource request includes data identifying said data server as the data server from which said requested data is to be provided to said user.

5. A system as claimed in claim 4, wherein:

said data server identified by said data in said modified data resource request is different from a data server identified by data in said data resource request prior to modification.

6. A system for handling a response to a data request from a user requesting data from a distributed data delivery network, the system comprising:

a data response modifier, adapted to intercept and modify a data response issued by a data server in said network to create a modified data response before said requested data reaches said user, wherein said modified data response activates delivery of said requested data from an alternate server in the network, and in which said requested data remains unmodified from said alternate server through delivery to said user, and

a data delivery device, adapted to control routing of requested darn from the alternate data server in said distributed data delivery network to said user based on said modified data response.

7. A system as claimed in claim 6, wherein:

said data response includes a data response metafile;

said data response modifier is adapted to modify said data response metafile to create a modified data response metafile included in said modified data response; and

said data delivery device is adapted to control routing of said requested data from said data server based on said modified data response metafile.

8. A system as claimed in claim 6, wherein:

said data delivery device issues said modified data response to enable said user to receive said requested data from said alternate data server.

9. A system as claimed in claim 6, wherein:

said modified data response includes data identifying said alternate data server as the data server from which said requested data is to be provided to said user.

10. A system as claimed in claim 9, wherein:

said alternate data server identified by said data in said modified data response is different from a data server identified by data in said data response prior to modification.

11. A method for handling data requests in a distributed data delivery network, the method comprising:

intercepting and modifying a data resource request issued by a user requesting data from said network prior to said data resource request being advanced by a first data server encountered in said network, to create a modified data resource request; and

controlling routing of requested data from a data server in said distributed data delivery network to said user based on said modified data resource request, wherein said requested data remains unmodified through the delivery of the requested data from said data server to said user.

12. A method as claimed in claim 11, wherein:

said data resource request includes a data resource request metafile;

said data resource request modifying step includes modifying said data resource request metallic to create a modified data resource request metafile included in said modified data resource request; and

said controlling step includes controlling routing of said requested data from said data server based on said modified data resource request metafile.

13. A method as claimed in claim 11, further comprising:

issuing a response to said user based on said modified data resource request to enable said user to receive said requested data from said data server.

14. A method as claimed in claim 11, wherein:

said modified data resource request includes data identifying said data server as the data server from which said requested data is to be provided to said user.

15. A method as claimed in claim 14, wherein:

said data server identified by said data in said modified data resource request is different from a data sewer identified by data in said data resource request prior to modification.

16. A method for handling a response to a data request in a distributed data delivery network, the system comprising:

intercepting and modifying a data response issued by a data server in said network in response to a data resource request issued by a user requesting data from said network, before said response reaches said user, to create a modified data response, wherein said modified data response activates delivery of the data response from an alternate server in the network, and in which said requested data remains unmodified from said alternate serves through delivery to said user; and

controlling routing of requested data from said alternate data server in said distributed data delivery network to said user based on said modified data response.

17. A method as claimed in claim 16, wherein:

said data response includes a data response metafile;

said data response modifying step includes modifying said data response metafile to create a modified data response metafile included in said modified data response; and

said controlling step includes controlling routing of said requested data from said alternate data server based on said modified data response metafile.

18. A method as claimed in claim 16, further comprising:

issuing said modified data response to enable said user to receive said requested data from said alternate data server.

19. A method as claimed in claim 16, wherein:

said modified data response includes data identifying said alternate data server as the data server from which said requested data is to be provided to said user.

20. A method as claimed in claim 19, wherein:

said alternate data server identified by said data in said modified data response is different from a data server identified by data in said data response prior to modification.